Friday, October 14, 2011

Jim Riggleman Out of mix, Bob Geren looking like the clear cut winner for bench coach

An official announcement won’t come before next week, because the team still plans to speak with Dave Jauss, who served as bench coach for manager Jerry Manuel in 2010. But the other prime candidate for the job, Jim Riggleman, is no longer in the mix.

Though manager Terry Collins is believed to have favored his longtime friend, Riggleman, the Mets front office championed Geren, who was fired as Oakland’s manager in June. Geren is highly regarded by Oakland general manager Billy Beane, who worked for Mets GM Sandy Alderson in the 1990s with the Athletics.

With Geren on board, the lone coaching vacancy would be at first base.

Geren’s communication skills came under fire during his Oakland tenure. Pitcher Huston Street made his feelings known about his former manager after joining the Rockies.

“For me personally, he was my least favorite person I have ever encountered in sports from age 6 to 27,” Street told the San Francisco Chronicle.